Knock-down support means



June 4, 1957 B. F. STRAND, JR

mocx-ndwu SUPPORT mass 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 15, 1954 ll'l ' I ATTO B N EY$ June 4, 1957 B. F. STRAND, JR

KNOCK-DOWN SUPPORT MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 15, 1954 ATTO RNEYS June 4, 1957 B. F. STRAND, JR

KNOCK-DOWN SUPPORT MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 15, 195.4

1 INVENTOR. '5. 567722170 d7: W7W

ATTOR N EYS United States Patent KNOCK-DOWN SUPPORT MEANS Bert F. Strand, Jr., Toledo, Ohio Application November 15, 1954, Serial No. 468,596

10 Claims. (Cl. 155-196) This invention relates more particularly, but not exclusively, to knock-down furniture, or other articles of a type wherein a top member or frame is supported at one or more edges by detachable leg members, and is a continuation-in-part of my application for United States Letters Patent Serial No. 374,075, filed August 13, 1953, now abandoned.

An object of the invention is the provision of an article of the class described that is composed of few parts, is capable of being easily and quickly connected together for use, or separated for shipment or storage, is economical to manufacture, and is light and durable in construction, whereby the practicability and commercial value thereof is enhanced.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, and from the accompanying drawings illustrating two embodiments of the invention, and in Which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a table structure embodying the invention, with a portion of an associated table top member broken away;

Fig. 2 is a similar exploded view thereof, with the table top member removed and with the retaining ring omitted;

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing both legs or supporting members at different stages of movement in.the act of being engaged over the ends of the top frame structure preparatory to having locking engagement therewith or being removed therefrom;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a structure embodying the invention in set-up position and serving as a base structure or support for a chair seat and back, with portions of the seat and back broken away;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified table structure, with the parts in assembled set-up position;

Fig. 6 is a similar exploded view thereof, with the leg bracing means omitted, and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the top side members in connected relation.

While the invention is capable of use in connection with various articles, and particularly those in the furniture art, it is shown herein for the purpose of illustration as applied to a table (Fig. 1) and to a chair (Fig. 4).

An article embodying the invention, as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, comprises, in the present instance, four separable parts, namely, a top member or frame 10, two supporting members 11, 11 therefor attached to opposed side edge portions thereof, and a retaining member 12 which binds the support members in assembled set-up relation.

The top member comprises a frame preferably of rectangular form, with its sides composed, in the present instance, of lengths of angle iron secured together at their ends. Each opposed side bar a of the frame at each end adjacent to the respective cross-bar b is provided with a top notch c and in inwardly spaced relation thereto with a notch d, the two notches c, c and the two notches d, d at the associated end of the top member being transversely aligned in respective pairs. In practice, with an article such as illustrated, the notches c and d are preferably spaced approximately three inches apart.

Each support member 11 in its present embodiment is of inverted U-form and comprises a pair of transversely spaced legs 1, f and a connecting cross or loop portion g. The legs are angled in parallel relation at their upper end portions to provide the short lateral arms h so as to ofiset the loop g from the longitudinal plane of the legs, the angle of offset being substantially a right angle. The legs are sufiiciently spaced to straddle the frame and the angle portions h are intended to lie along the respective sides of the frame lengthwise thereof with the loop g engaging up into the adjacent pair of notches d. Each of said angle portions h has an inwardly projecting part, in the present instance in the form of a crossbar i, which connects both portions, and is intended to fit down into the associated top notches c of the frame when a support member 11 is assembled in supporting relation to the frame, as shown.

In assembling a support member 11 with the top frame 10, each member 11 is placed substantially in longitudinal alignment with the respective end of the frame and the frame end is then inserted into the space between the two parts g and i until the part i registers with the notches c and is lowered therein. The member 11 is then swun-g about the axis of the part i as a fulcrum to cause the part g to swing upwardly toward the frame and seat in the registering bottom notches d. In this position the member 11 at its inner or upper end is firmly held in rigid relation to the frame except for swinging movements in an outward or releasing direction relative to the frame, as is apparent by reference to the drawing. The legs 1, 1, when in this set-up position, are angled slightly outwardly from right angular relation to the frame. If the arms h are at right angles to the legs f, as shown in the present instance, the inclination of the legs is caused by a slight difference in the plane of the parts g and i when interengaged with the frame notches c and d.

When the leg members 11 have both been assembled with the frame, they are tied together and held in substantially rigid relation thereto by a retaining member 12 which, in the present instance, is in the form of a rectangle and adapted to he slipped down over the four legs 1 from above the frame 10 and to move into binding rela tion thereto by reason of the outward inclination of the legs, as is apparent. While any suitable attaching means may be employed for holding the retaining member 12 in assembled relation to the legs, a simple means for this purpose, which obviates the use of bolts or screws, consists in notching each leg in position for the member 12 to spring therein when it has been forced down a predetermined distance thereon, such notching being indicated at k in Figs. 2 and 3. It is apparent that when the member 12 has been removed from connecting relation with the legs, the support members 11 may be swung outward and upward and their upper end portions thereby released from interengagement with the top frame 10.

While the assembled frame 10 with its supporting members 11 may be used for various purposes, two instances of such use are shown in the drawings where in Fig. 1 the frame is shown as cooperating with a member 14 forming the top of a table, and in Fig. 4 as cooperating with a seat and back member 15 to form a chair.

In Figs. 5 and 6 is shown a modified form of the invention wherein the top frame part corresponding to 10 in the previously described form is shown as comprising two separate transversely spaced parallel side bars 20, 20 extending lengthwise between the two opposed supporting members 21, 21 which are adapted to have res 3 leasable engagement with the respective end .of said bars.

Each side bar 20 is preferably of channel-bar form in crosss'ection with its channel facing downwardly, and at each .end the lower edge portion of both. side flanges :are longitudinally extended to .fOIIH a pair of transversely spaced upwardly projected hooked fingers 22. The lower edge of each inner side flange of the bar is preferably, but not necessarily, notched adjacent to each end as at 23. In order that the bars 20 may be interchangeably used, the notches .23 may be provided in transverse.y aligned relation in both flanges, as shown. However, when the bars are :in assembled relation the notches in the outer .flanges perform no function.

The end supporting members .21 are the same as in the first form, except that the cross-bars i are omitted, and in place thereof-each inwardly angled part It is provided with a crosspin i that projects a short distance from each side of said part. The angled parts 11' of the supporting member are connected, in the present instance, at their free ends by a cross-loop or bar g.

In assembling the two support members 21 and top bars 20, 2 0, the cross-loop g of each member is placed under the adjacent bar ends in register with the bar notches 23, if such notches are provided, and with the cross-pins z" positioned over the hooked fingers 22. In this position, the support members are disposed with their legs j in outwardly inclined positions with the angled parts It in the bar channels at the respective ends thereof. As the support members are drawn inward, the crossbars g firmly engage against the under sides of the bars 20, while the cross-pins i' firmly seat within the upturned fingers 22. Y

The legs f are rigidly braced and united by a bottom means .24 which, in the present instance, is composed of diagonalliy disposed bars 25 centrally connected by a tie member 26 and having loops 27 at their ends for receiving the legs. The outward spring of the legs tends to hold the brace means in position thereon and this is facilitated by looped engaging notches 23 in the legs.

, While the top .frame structure is shown in Figs. and 6 as comprising separable or independent side bars 20, these bars may, if desired, be connected by cross-rods 29 to provide a unitary structure, as shown in Fig. 7. The side bars 20 in Figs. 5 and 6 may also be rigidly connected by a table top member such as shown at 14 in Fig. l.

I wish .it understood that my invention is not limited to any specific construction, arrangement or form of the parts, as it capable of numerous modifications and changes without departing from the spirit of the claims.

I claim:

1; In a knock-down article of the class described, a pair of transversely spaced top bars, a support member at each end of said bars, said members each comprising a pair of legs having laterally angled substantially parallel extensions .at their upper ends which lap respective end portions of the bars, longitudinally spaced means on each of said extensions for releasable engagement with the respective lapped ends of said bars with one at least of said spacedmeans engaging upwardly against the under side of the adjacent end portion of said bars and the other of said means engaging downward against the upper side of the adjacent end portions of said bars when the members are in supporting relation to the bars, said engagement being broken and the members being released from the top bars 'by swinging the members outward and upward a predetermined extent relative to the bars and moving them away from the bars endwise thereof, and means releasably connecting said legs below the bars to hold the members in assembled relation thereto.

2.. A combination ascalled for in claim 1, wherein one of said spaced means serves to connect the legs of the respective member.

3. A knock-down structure of the class described comprising a pair of transversely spaced top bars, a supporting member at each of opposite ends of said bars, each member being of inverted U-form with its looped end portion laterally angled to form arms that lap the adjacent ends of said bars in position for the cross-loop member to engage upwardly against the bars, a laterally projecting part on each of said arms for engaging the top of the respective bars at the adjacent ends thereof when the leg portions of said members are in upright position whereby an outward releasing swinging of a member relative to said bars causes a disengagement of the member loop and said parts to permit withdrawal of the member from the bars, and means releasably retaining the members in assembled engagement with said bars.

4. In a structure of the class described, a substantially rectangular frame, a support member removably attached to the frame at each of opposite sides thereof, said members each comprising a pair of legs having laterally angled parallel extensions .at their upper ends which .lap respective sides of .the;frame, longitudinally spaced parts on each of said extensions for releasable engagement with the lapped frame sides, the engagement of one part being with the, top edge portion and that of the other part being with the lower edge portion of said side when the members are in supporting position, said engagement being broken and the members released from the frame by swinging the members outward and upward a predetermined extent relative to the frame and moving them away from the frame endwise thereof, and means connecting said legs below the frame to releasably hold the members in associated relation to the frame.

5. A knock-down structure of the class described, comprsing a substantially rectangular frame having opposed side bars with longitudinally spaced notches on each of said bars adjacent to an end thereof and at opposite sides, a supporting member for the frame at the notched ends of said bars, said member comprising a pair of laterally spaced legs with laterally projecting parallel upper end extensions, which latter lap the respective side bars of the frame, parts on .each .of said end extensions spaced lengthwise thereof, one entering the notch at the'upper side and the other entering the notch at the lower side of the frame when the legs .are in upright position, and cooperating with the notch walls to retain the frame and members assembled, and means connecting said extensions, said members being releasable from the frame by outward swinging movements thereof relative to the frame, and releasable means preventing said swinging movements of the member.

6. A knock-down structure of the class described, comprising a top frame having opposed side bars with a'pair of longitudinally spaced notches in each end portion of said bar, one on the upperedgeand the other on the lower edge of the bar, and a supporting member at each of opposite sides of the frame, each member being of inverted U-form with itsloopend portion laterally angled to form arms that lap the sides of the adjacent ends of said notched side bars in position for the cross loop of the membert to engage upwardly in the bottom notches at the adjacent-ends of the opposed bars, a laterally projecting part on each of said arms for engaging in the other notch of each bar at the adjacent ends thereof when the leg portions or" said members are in upright position whereby an outward releasing swinging of each member relative to the frame may be about said parts as a fulcrum and cause a disengagement of the member loop with its notchesto permit withdrawal of the member from the frame, and means releasably retaining the members in engagement withthe frame.

7. A combination as called for in claim 6, wherein the leg portions .of said members are downwardly and outwardly inclined relative to the frame to which attached and said retaining means slides down over said leg portions and tightens against their incline.

8'. .A knock-down article of the. class described, comprising a top member of vertically shallow rectangular form having a top notch and a bottom notch differentially spaced from one edge thereof, a support for the notched portion of said member, said support having upright leg portions and a loop portion connecting the upper ends of said leg portions and angled inwardly relative thereto, said loop portion adapted to receive the notched portion of said top member and having spaced parts for releasable interengagement with said notches one over the other under the top member when said latter is received by said loop portion and said leg portions are in upright position, and means releasably engaging said leg portions and holding them in position for said parts to have opposed engagement with the notched portion of the top member, such engagement being released by swinging the support outwardly and upwardly relative to the top member.

9. A knock-down structure of the class described, comsions for engaging downwardly against said hooked fingers when the supporting members and said bars are assembled with the free end portions of said extensions bearing upwardly against the bars inwardly from said fingers, said engagement of the supporting members with the bars being broken and released by swinging the members outward and upward a predetermined extent relative to the bars and moving them away from the bars endwise thereof, means connecting the extension ends of each of said member legs, and means connecting the member legs below the bars to releasably hold the members in assembled relation thereto.

10. A combination as called for in claim 9, wherein each "of said members includes a cross-bar connecting the free ends of said extensions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 149,275 Wilson Mar. 31, 1874 507,326 McLaurin Oct. 24, 1893 1,467,830 Boggs Sept. 11, 1923 1,600,823 Hess Sept. 21, 1926 1,800,456 Lawrence Apr. 14, 1931 2,573,304 Bronstein Oct. 30, 1951 2,600,191 Beach June 10, 1952 2,708,965 King May 24, 1955 

